Two players, who will no longer play for the Black and Reds next season, face each other twice in five days in European Championship qualifiers: Captain Elisa Senß, who is set to play for Eintracht Frankfurt, and Germany start Group A4 at home on 31 May and away on 4 June against Poland with striker Nikola Karczewska, whose loan spell from Tottenham Hotspur is over. Germany have started the qualifiers with a perfect six points. Poland, who lost both of their first games, also have Sylwia Matysik in their squad for the games on matchdays 3 and 4.
The Iceland international Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir is in the same group away and then at home to Austria. Iceland have three points to date. Hungary, with one point from two games, play away and then at home to Switzerland in League B1 with central defender Lilla Turányi in the squad.
Two Leverkusen players have been called up to the Germany U20 squad. Sofie Zdebel has support within the team from Loreen Bender, who is set to make her debut at a higher age group following seven appearances and five goals for the U19s. The squad under coach Kathrin Peter will meet up in Sweden to prepare for the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup (31 August 22 September in Colombia). Friendlies have been arranged every three days with matches against the U23 teams from Poland, Australia and Sweden.
The Germany U19 squad will get together at a training camp in Bad Blankenburg from 27 to 30 May in preparation for the European Championships in Lithuania (14 to 27 July). That includes a Bayer 04 quintet: Goalkeeper Anne Moll, Paulina Bartz, Estrella Merino Gonzalez, Julia Mickenhagen and Delice Boboy. No international fixtures have been organised. Julie Jorde is away with the Norway U23 squad. A friendly against an unnamed opponent is planned for 31 May. Her teammates Emilie Bragstad and Synne Skinnes Hansen are on standby for the senior team who play Italy in two Euro qualifiers.
The international call-ups:
Elisa Senß (Germany)
31.05.: Germany vs Poland (Euro qualifier)
04.06.: Poland vs Germany (Euro qualifier)
Nikola Karczewska and Sylwia Matysik (Poland)
31.05.: Germany vs Poland (Euro qualifier)
04.06.: Poland vs Germany (Euro qualifier)
Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir (Iceland)
31.05.: Austria vs Iceland (Euro qualifier)
04.06.: Iceland vs Austria (Euro qualifier)
Lilla Turányi (Hungary)
31.05.: Switzerland vs Hungary (Euro qualifier)
04.06.: Hungary vs Switzerland (Euro qualifier)
Loreen Bender and Sofie Zdebel (Germany U20s)
29.05.: Poland U23 vs Germany (Friendly)
01.06.: Australia U23 vs Germany (Friendly)
04.06.: Sweden U23 vs Germany (Friendly)
Paulina Bartz, Delice Boboy, Estrella Merino Gonzalez, Julia Mickenhagen, Anne Moll (all Germany U19s)
27.05. – 30.05.: Training camp in Bad Blankenburg
Julie Jorde (Norway U23s)
31.05.: Friendly (opponents to be confirmed)
A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
Show more
On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen are bringing back Kerim Alajbegovic, who joined Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2025. The Bundesliga club activated the buy-back option in the contract with the Bosnia international, who has enjoyed great success at the Austrian top-flight club since the start of the current season. Alajbegovic moved to Salzburg from the Leverkusen U19s last year. The 1.86-metre forward has signed a five-year contract at Leverkusen with a start date of 1 July 2026.
Show more
Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
Show more
